With a view to inspiring and influencing Swedish development policy, Minister for International Development Cooperation Per Olsson Fridh will launch an international advisory group for action on the environment, climate and biodiversity in connection with World Environment Day on 5 June. The advisory group will make an important contribution to fine-tuning Sweden’s global engagement in the most affected countries ahead of coming international high level meetings on climate, environment and biodiversity.
Swedish climate and environmental aid has increased significantly in recent years. On this year’s World Environment Day on 5 June, Mr Fridh will launch an international advisory group for environment, climate and biodiversity within the scope of development policy. The purpose of the group is to further strengthen Sweden’s global agency to address climate change, halt the loss of biodiversity and the depletion of ecosystems. Strong global action on these issues is necessary for sustainable and equitable development, and also to prevent conflicts and new pandemics.
The group consists of international experts and top names who all provide deep commitment and knowledge in the field.
“International efforts must be further developed to address the climate crisis and the crisis facing nature. By gathering insight and ideas from a global group of outstanding individuals, we can take development policy for a green and equitable future to the next level,” says Mr Fridh.
“By establishing this advisory group, Sweden is showing its willingness to incorporate curiosity, innovation and new perspectives into its development policy. This is urgently needed, as we must act quickly to address an accelerating climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis,” says Wanjira Mathai, Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute and a member of the group.
Group discussions will be lead by Mr Fridh.
Participants:
– Ili Nadiah Dzulfakar, climate activist and founder of Klima Action Malaysia;
– Wanjira Mathai, Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute think tank;
– Ulrika Modéer, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of the United Nations Development Programme’s Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy, former State Secretary at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs;
– Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment and editor of the Indian magazine Down to Earth;
– Olof Skoog, Head of the European Union delegation to the United Nations in New York, Swedish diplomat.
– Peter Winsor, Professor of Oceanography and Director of the World Wildlife Fund’s Arctic Programme.
A first meeting of the informal advisory group is planned for early autumn.
